Banned Book Week was established in 1982 by the American Library Association as a way to remind all Americans to never take their democratic freedom to read for granted. As the Intellectual Freedom Manual (ALA, 7th edition) states:
Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on any subject and toconvey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate; and second, that society makes equal commitment to the right of unrestricted access to information andideas regardless of the communication medium used, the content of the work, and the viewpoints of both the author and receiver of information. Freedom toexpress oneself through a chosen mode of communication, including the Internet, becomes virtually meaningless if access to that information is not protected.Intellectual freedom implies a circle, and that circle is broken if either freedom of expression or access to ideas is stifled.
This statement is based on the first amendment.
Libraries often face challenges to books on their shelves. Here is the Library Bill of Rights. Judith Krug, the director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, started the tradition of Banned Books Week.
This Pathfinder will provide an overview of the historical perspective on banning books and concerns for the future.
An Overview: The ALA website provides a good overview of the issue. Use the following links to find out about banned and challenged books.
Judy Bloom has written several books that have been challenged and in certain places banned from the shelves. Here Judy Bloom talks about her views on censorship.
Newberry Award Winner Susan Patron discusses the decision by some school librarians to ban her book, The Higher Power of Lucky.
Author Lauren Myracle speaks out about her experiences with book challenges and calls attention to censorship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Book Banning.
This website from Occidental College provides answers to frequently asked questions about book banning.
Banned Book Week was established in 1982 by the American Library Association as a way to remind all Americans to never take their democratic freedom to read for granted. As the Intellectual Freedom Manual (ALA, 7th edition) states:
Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on any subject and to convey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate; and second, that society makes equal commitment to the right of unrestricted access to information and ideas regardless of the communication medium used, the content of the work, and the viewpoints of both the author and receiver of information. Freedom to express oneself through a chosen mode of communication, including the Internet, becomes virtually meaningless if access to that information is not protected. Intellectual freedom implies a circle, and that circle is broken if either freedom of expression or access to ideas is stifled.
This statement is based on the first amendment.Libraries often face challenges to books on their shelves. Here is the Library Bill of Rights.
Judith Krug, the director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, started the tradition of Banned Books Week.
This Pathfinder will provide an overview of the historical perspective on banning books and concerns for the future.
An Overview: The ALA website provides a good overview of the issue. Use the following links to find out about banned and challenged books.
History of Banned Books
Probably the most prominent historical book burning occurred in Nazi Germany on May 10, 1933This wasn't the first incident in history. Here is a timeline of book burnings in history
Authors Talk about Censorship
Judy Bloom has written several books that have been challenged and in certain places banned from the shelves. Here Judy Bloom talks about her views on censorship.Newberry Award Winner Susan Patron discusses the decision by some school librarians to ban her book, The Higher Power of Lucky.
Author Lauren Myracle speaks out about her experiences with book challenges and calls attention to censorship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Book Banning.
This website from Occidental College provides answers to frequently asked questions about book banning.Banned Books Online
Banned Books Online is a special exhibit of censored or banned books. Provides an overview of the book and why it was banned
Wielding the Red Pen: "What is Your Definition of Censorship?" Created by the University of Virginia Library
Dangerous Pages Review: An index of banned and challenged books.
Marshall University Library: Provides links to most frequently challenged books, author links and title links
Huffington Post: Banned Books Week : Top 10 Most Challenged 2012